Great Storytelling | Almost a Mensch

A Trip Back In Time | Almost a Mensch | David Gottlieb

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	• Almost a Mensch David Gottlieb Halcyon Pr, 2002 - 257 pages average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Almost Fiction??

Almost a Mensch is a very inspiring and entertaining work. While following Gottlieb's early life, the book tells of the many struggles of a young Jew in a world surrounded by adversity. Whether it be stories of his educational background, or tales of ethnicity while growing up in the Detroit area, the book reads like a work of fiction. It's truly amazing that so many interesting events happened to Gottlieb so early in life. The book inspires by stating very simply no matter what odds you are up against in life, anyone with the right amount of determination and desire to succeed can do just that. Gottlieb's tale is a mixture of personal evolutionary triumphs and humorous once-in-a-lifetime situations. The funny thing is, he always seems to come out on top...yet another reason this book reads like fiction! Reading this story was comparable to watching an entire season of The Wonder Years without the actors and advertisements. Just think about the possibilities...Almost a Mensch the mini-series??? Judging from the natural flow of possibilities this man has experienced throughout his life, and as exemplified in this book, I wouldn't rule it out. His story serves up a simple truth - anything is possible if you can muster up the "chutzpah" to try it. My favorite, most endearing aspect of this book is the parallel that I was able to draw with my own developmental years. In other words, it's very reassuring to know that a man of Gottlieb's stature was once the constantly reprimanded class clown, or dreamed of becoming the next pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Almost a Mensch very eloquently puts into words what so many of us would like to say about our own lives. If I could only remember the events of my life as well as Gottlieb remembers his...

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Great Storytelling

"Almost a Mensch" is a fascinating book about the challenges of a young Jewish boy growing up in the United States at a time where the world, as we know it today, was taking shape. Dr. Gotlieb is a great storyteller. He captures your attention all the way to the end of his book. He paints a good picture of the social environment in this country during WWII and methodically describes the infrastructure created by the Jewish people during that time to build their homeland. I found this illuminating.
I was emotionally stirred when Dr. Gotlieb was describing the perils he faced during his voyage to Haifa and the tragedies the European Jews encountered during and after World War II. I cannot help but reflect on today's events in the Middle East, recognizing that we still have not accomplished what those people were looking for "a safe and secure homeland".

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A Trip Back In Time

The unrest in the Middle East has been, and remains, one of the most important issues we face, and yet so few of us really understand the context and history of the founding of Israel. David Gottlieb's story is simultaneously the story of a young man's coming of age, the emergence of Israel as an independent Jewish State, and the forces that make Israel so much a part of twentieth century American culture and history. In many ways, David's story is the story of the American Jewish people and one we should all be sure to tell our children, so that it is not just a distant memory.

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brings memories

Dr. Gottleib's book so very well describes growing up in the late 20s and 30s in an immigrant Detroit neighborhood that so much resembled scrambling up in New York City. There is humor and great honesty in the telling of this man's story of becoming a complete man... a mensch. I read it in two days and wish it was longer.

A fabulous coming of age. . .

Great book. Gottlieb takes us to a place long ago and far away, Detroit and beyond in the late 20's, 30's, 40's, etc.

Coming of age in an immigrant family, in an ethnically divided city - - well written, well done. As you are reading it, you feel like you are living it with him.

If "A Big Fat Greek Wedding" can gross over $200 million, wait until this hits the big screen. I really enjoyed it.

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Every Jewish boy has a bar mitzvah, the traditional rite of passage wherein the Jewish male is accepted by the Jewish community as a man. Becoming a man, however, must be differentiated from becoming a mensch.
A mensch is a state of being to which many may aspire but few attain. There are no formal entrance criteria or ground rules. Being a devout, wealthy, influential, well-educated Jew is not sufficient. A mensch is a truly honest, compassionate, generous, warm and loving soul.
To be a man is one thing; to be a mensch is yet another.

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